Packet of tetrahedron-shaped packages



2 Sheets-Sheet l SHA PED PACKAGES H. A. PERRY PACKET OF TETRAHEDRON July 19, 1966 Filed July 5, 1963 July 19, 1966 H. A. PERRY PACKET OF TETRAHEDRON-SHAPED PACKAGES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 5, 1963 United States Patent 3,261,462 PACKET 0F TETRAHEDRON-SHAPED PACKAGES Henry A. Perry, Somerville, Mass, assignor to Packaging Frontiers, Inc., Waltham, Mass., a corporation of Delaware 4 Filed July 5, 1963, Ser. No. 292,993 3 Claims. (Cl. 20665) This invention relates to packaging, and more particularly to the containerization of tetrahedron-shaped packages.

Among the several objects of the invention may be noted the provision of a low-cost compact packet of tetrahedron-shaped packages, and more particularly a packet of six such packages (a six-pack) the provision of such a packet in which the packages are contained in a simple folder, and nested therein in a manner for efiicient utilization of space, thus minimizing the amount of mate-rial required for the folder; and the provision of a packet such as described in which, while the folder is open at its ends, the packages are securely retained therein until it is desired to remove them, each package being readily removable when desired. Other objects and features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the constructions hereinafter described, the scope of the invention being indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which one of various possible embodiments of the invention is illustrated,

FIG. 1 is a plan of a blank which constitutes a folder for a packet of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing two fans of three tetrahedron-shaped packages each applied to the FIG. 1 blank;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an end elevation of a completed packet;

FIG. 5 is a left-side view of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a section taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 4.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring first more particularly to FIG. 1 of the drawings, there is indicated at 1 an elongate rectangular blank of any suitable carton material, such as cardboard. As will appear, this constitutes a folder adapted to be folded around a plurality of tetrahedron-shaped packages to contain the packages. The ends of the blank or folder 1 are designated 3 and 5 and its long sides are designated 7 and 9. The blank is scored for folding on transverse lines such as indicated at 11, 13 and 15. These in effect divide the blank into four panels 17, 19, 21 and 23.

Panels 17 and 21, which may be referred to as side panels, are relatively wide panels of equal width somewhat greater than the length of the packages to be enwrapped, and lie on opposite sides of panel 19. The latter is relatively narrow, having a width corresponding to the Width of the ends of the packages, and may be referred to as an intermediate or bottom panel. Panel 23, which is integrally joined to side panel 21 along line 15, is also relatively narrow and may be referred to as a closure flap.

Flap 23 is formed with two sets of tabs 25 and 27 and panel 17 is formed with two sets of slits 29 and 31 for receiving these tabs. Tabs 25 project from the end 5 of the blank; tabs 27 are formed by C-shaped slits in flap 23.

Referring now to FIGS. 2. and 3, there is indicated at F1 what may be referred to as a fan of three somewhat elongated tetrahedron-shaped packages. Each package in the fan F1 is designated P1. Each package comprises a length of tubing having a transverse seal E1 at one end in a first plane and a transverse seal E2 at the other end and in a second plane at an angle of to the plane of seal E1, so that the package has four triangular sides. Two of these triangular sides, each of which is designated 33, have seal E1 as their base; the other two triangular sides, only one of which appears in FIG. 2 and which is designated 35, have seal E2 as their base. As shown, seals E1 and E2 are made at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the tubing, hence each package is of equilateral tetrahedron shape, i.e., all four triangular sides of the package are identical. Seal E2 is a relatively broad seal.

As will be apparent from FIG. 2, the fan F1 is formed by bringing the three packages P1 into side by-side fanshaped relation with the end of each package sealed by seal E1 at the apex A1 of the fan, the ends sealed by broad seals E2 constituting the outer edge of the fan. To simplify the drawings, the triangular sides of the packages are illustrated as flat throughout their area, but it will be understood that ordinarily each side will be of somewhat rounded contour, particularly adjacent its apex.

Each package is what may be referred to as a 30 tetrahedron, i.e., two opposite sides thereof subtend an angle of 30. Hence the three packages in the fan make up into a 90 fan, i.e., a fan in which the sides extending from the apex are generally at right angles. The length of each package is somewhat less than the width of the folder 1.

A second fan of three packages is indicated at F2. Fan F2 is identical to fan F1. The packages in fan F2 are identical to packages P1, and are designated P2 to distinguish them from packages P1. The apex of fan F2 is designated A2.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, fan F1 is positioned on side panel 17 of the blank or folder 1 with its apex A1 adjacent the juncture 37 of fold line 11 and side edge 7 of the folder, with one side of the fan extending along side edge 7 and the other side of the fan extending along fold line 11. Fan F2 is positioned on side panel 21 of the folder 1 with its apex A2 adjacent the juncture 39 of fold line 13 and side edge 9 of the folder, with one side of the fan extending along side edge 9 and the other side of the fan extending along fold line 13. In effect, fans F1 and F2 occupy inverse positions on side panels 17 and 21. Thus, fan F1 has its apex A1 adjacent one side of the panel 19, one side of this fan extending along this side of the bottom panel in one direction from apex A1 of the fan. Fan F2 has its apex A2 adjacent the other side of panel 19 displaced from apex A1 a distance corresponding generally to the package length, with one side of fan F2 extending along said other side of panel 19 in the opposite direction from its apex A2. Each of side panels 17 and 21, as shown, is generally of square or rectangular outline, each side of the square or rectangle being somewhat greater in length than the length of packages P1 and P2. The width of panel 19 corresponds generally to the width of the apex of a fan.

Each package P1 and P2 is suitably detachably secured to the respective side panel 17 or 21 to maintain its position in the respective fan F1 or F2. As shown, this securement is by means of staples 41 driven through the broad end seals E2 of the packages and the panels 17 and 21. It is contemplated, however, that other suitable modes of securement may be used. For example, the packages could be secured to the panels by adhesive, e.g., hot-melt adhesive, glue, or pressure-sensitive adhesive. Securement with adhesive may be effected at positions other than at the end seals E2. For example, each package might have its triangular face which engages the respective panel spot-adhered to the panel.

With the fans F1 and F2 secured to side panels 17 and 21, these panels, carrying the fans, are folded up on fold lines 11 and 13 and angled inward toward one another to form a compact packet of the six tetrahedronshaped packages P1 and P2 which resembles a satchel open at its ends. Panels 17 and 21 are brought into angled position relative to bottom panel 19, converging toward one another in upward direction from the sides of bottom panel 19 with end edges 3 of the blank meeting fold line 15 at what may be termed the peak of the packet. Flap 23 is folded over on fold line 15 to lie on the outside of side panel 17, and tabs 25 and 27 are inserted in slits 29 and 31 to maintain the side panels in position.

FIGS. 4-6 show the completed satchel-like packet. As

appears therefrom, this comprises the bottom panel 19 and side panels 17 and 21 extending upward from opposite sides of the bottom panel converging toward one another and meeting at the peak defined by fold line 15. Panels 17 and 21 are held in the stated convergence by insertion of tabs 25 and 27 on flap 23 in slits 29 and 31. Here it will be understood that any other suitable mode of securement of the upper ends of panels 17 and 21 together which permits opening up of the folder to the condition such as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 may be used. The folder, in transverse cross section, is of triangular form corresponding to the triangular shape of one of the triangular faces of a tetrahedron-shaped package P1, P2, and is open at each end. Fan F1, secured to side panel 17, has its apex A1 extending transversely across 7 bottom panel 19 adjacent one end of the latter, one side overlying the bottom panel, and its other side extending upward at one open end of the folder (the left end as viewed in FIG. Fan F2, secured to side panel 21., has its apex A2 extending transversely across bottom panel 19 adjacent the opposite end of the latter, one side overlying the bottom panel, and its other side extending upward at the other open end of the folder. The fans, having been inversely positioned on side panels 17 and 21, are nested together in overlapping relation, occupying substantially all of the space in the satchel except for .some space at the top.

To remove a package or packages, the folder is opened up and a package may then be grasped and torn away from staples 41. To facilitate this, each package may be provided with a line of perforations such as indicated at 43 across the end seal E2, and torn off along this line of perforations. The line of perforations may be located slightly inward from seal E2 and be of the type such as shown in Schneider et al. US. Patent 3,083,876 issued April 2, 1963.

It will be apparent that the packet is adapted to stand on its bottom 19 (like a satchel), and it will also be apparent that some suitable handle formation might be used at the top. While a six-pack of two fans of three each is shown (the packages being 30 tetrahedrons), it is conceivable that other numbers of packages may be packed. For example, it is possible that an eight-pack using two fans of four 22 tetrahedrons each may be formed. A pack of twelve 30 tetrahedrons may be made by doubling the transverse dimension of the blank or folder 1 and applying two fans F1 on the left of the bottom panel and two fans F2 on the right of the bottom panel.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained,

verse dimension of the folder corresponding generally to the length of the packages, said folder being folded on lines extending transversely thereof to have a rectangular bottom panel having a width corresponding to the width of the package end seals and a length greater than the package length, side panels converging upward from the sides of the bottom panel to a peak, said side panels having a height greater than the package length, and means detachably securing together the tops of said side panels, said folder being open at both ends, and two fans of tetrahedron-shaped packages in the folder, and each fan comprising a plurality of said packages with one end of each package in the fan at the apex of the fan and the other end of the packages in the fan constituting the outer edge of the fan, each fan having the same number of packages therein, each fan having its outer sides at right angles to one another, one of said fans having its apex extending transversely across the bottom panel adjacent one open end of the folder with one side of this fan overlying the bottom panel and its other side extending upward to the peak of the folder at said one open end of the folder, and the other of said fans having its apex extending transversely across the bottom panel adjacent the other open end of the folder with one side of this fan overlying the bottom panel and its other side extending upward to the peak of the folder at said other open end of the'folder, whereby the fans are oppositely disposed in nested relation, one fan lying against one side panel and the said packages therein being removably secured to this one side panel, and the other fan lying against the other side panel and the said packages therein being removably secured to said other side panel.

2. A packet as set forth in claim 1 wherein each package has a relatively broad end seal at the outer edge of the respective fan and is detachably secured at these seals to the respective side panel.

3. A packet as set forth in claim 2 wherein each package has a line of weakness adjacent its end at the outer edge of the respective fan and is secured to the respective side of the folder between said line and said end, whereby it may be torn off along said line.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,809,600 6/1931 Palmer 206 X 2,192,472 3/1940 Huston 206-46 X 2,887,221 5/1959 Woodward 206-65 2,919,800 1/1960 Jarund 206-65 3,074,612 1/ 1963 Schneider 229-66 X 3,144,129 8/1964 Weisberg 20656 LOUIS G. MANCENE, Primary Examiner. 

1. A PACKET OF TETRAHEDRON-SHAPED PACKAGES, EACH PACKAGE COMPRISING A LENGTH OF TUBING HAVING TRANSVERSE END SEALS GENERALLY AT RIGHT ANGLES TO ONE ANOTHER, SAID PACKET COMPRISING A FOLDER CONSTITUTED BY AN ELONGATE GENERALLY RECTANGULAR BLANK OF CARTON MATERIAL, THE TRANSVERSE DIMENSION OF THE FOLDER CORRESPONDING GENERALLY TO THE LENGTH OF THE PACKAGES, SAID FOLDER BEING FOLDED ON LINES EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY THEREOF TO HAVE A RECTANGULAR BOTTOM PANEL HAVING A WIDTH CORRESPONDING TO THE WIDTH OF THE PACKAGE END SEALS AND A LENGTH GREATER THAN THE PACKAGAE LENGTH, SIDE PANELS CONVERGING UPWARD FROM THE SIDES OF THE BOTTOM PANEL TO A PEAK, SAID SIDE PANELS HAVING A HEIGHT GREATER THAN THE PACKAGE LENGTH, AND MEANS DETACHABLY SECUREING TOGETHER THE TOPS OF SAID SIDE PANELS, SAID FOLDER BEING OPEN AT BOTH ENDS, AND TWO FANS OF TETRAHEDRON-SHAPED PACKAGES IN THE FOLDER, AND EACH FAN COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF SAID PACKAGES WITH ONE END OF EACH PACKAGE IN THE FAN AT THE APEX OF THE FAN AND THE OTHER END OF THE PACKAGES IN THE FAN CONSTITUTING THE OUTER EDGE OF THE FAN, EACH FAN HAVING ITS OUTER SIDES AT OF PACKAGES THEREIN, EACH FAN HVING ITS OUTER SIDES AT RIGHT ANGLES TO ONE ANOTHER, ONE OF SAID FANS HAVING ITS APEX EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY ACROSS THE BOTTOM PANEL ADJACENT ONE OPEN END OF THE FOLDER WITH ONE SIDE OF THIS 